Daily Bread 8/16/2023

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Daily Bread – August 16, 2023 (The Fourth Day – Genesis 1:14-19) John 17:16-17 – They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in Your truth; Your Word is truth. Sanctification The saints, or the sons/children of God, have been begotten from above, and belong to God and His Kingdom (John 3:3-6). As a result, Jesus fully identifies all who are born from above with Himself (v 14, 16). When we look through the Bible, we discover how sanctification is the act of God setting something apart for Himself. A profound insight to the meaning of sanctification as it relates to the people of God is found in Exodus 19. God was preparing to reveal Himself to the whole congregation of Israel. Therefore, He demanded they sanctify themselves in preparation to meet with Him. Here we begin to understand how sanctification is what God demands if we are going to meet with Him. God in His mercy and love gives us His Word – His instructions regarding what we must do. If we obey, we find ourselves having been prepared and made acceptable to come into a meeting place with Him. God is Holy, and He demands everything that comes near to Him be holy too. Men cannot have it their own way because they have been contaminated and polluted with the things of this world. Everything that comes near unto a Holy God Who is dedicated to life and purity must be sanctified (Leviticus 10:3). Another insight into the meaning of sanctification is a consecration to destroy all sin and rebellion from our midst. Israel defiled themselves and made a golden calf while Moses was meeting with God. When Moses returned, He gave everyone an opportunity to re-consecrate themselves to God. He called for all who desired to follow the Lord to come and stand with Him. Those who refused to be set apart unto the Lord, persisting to have their idols and their own ways, Moses commanded the Levites to destroy (Exodus 32:25-29). God demands that we abstain from fleshly lust and every wicked way. Although we are sanctified by His own mighty works, He still demands we keep ourselves from sin (1 John 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:4). We should count it a great honor to be allowed to have those things God has freely given. Our response to Him should be a complete surrender to all He commands! Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen